A win-win for everyone

I can’t help but wonder if the projected $1.9 billion revenue over five years isn’t an underestimation of the possible revenue from Initiative 502 to legalize and regulate marijuana [“Legalizing pot here may be tax windfall, if feds don’t object,” NWSaturday, Aug. 11].

If this projection is based upon purchases by citizens of Washington state only, then it is a conservative estimate at best.

Ironically, the probability of tourism based on the legalization and regulation of marijuana would primarily benefit (both directly and indirectly) the region of the state most likely to vote against the initiative — that is Eastern and Central Washington. These regions are already profiting from grape growing and wineries — and the resulting tourism. Adding a profitable marijuana crop would create more living-wage jobs than the combined forces of Gov. Mitt Romney and President Barack Obama.

As for rejection of the law by the U.S. Justice Department, I believe a strong argument could be made for using Washington state as a test of legalized and regulated marijuana for determining an exception to the federal Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) law.

I-502 is a win-win for everyone in Washington with the exception of the criminal element, and that would be the greatest win of all.

— Margaret L. Edgar, Seattle